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hey zip. need some input.
im a metalhead and dress accordingly - jeans, black band shirts and sneakers. any ideas on how i can dress nicely but still keep my rocker image? i dont dress like a goth or whatever and i'm fairly good looking (no long kurt cobain hair or anything) but i feel like im constantly dressing down. the problem is, dressing up doesnt suit my personality. girls seem somewhat shocked when they find out that im a rocker (and in a metal band) because i supposedly look like a jock. any ideas? i was thinking of getting some designer jeans that still look a bit rocker-ish (polo sport seems ok), then some vintage band shirts (like led zeppelin, the clash, acdc, rolling stones etc) some black brogues (or maybe some converse all-star type stuffs?) and then finishing it off with a nice, slim blazer (i'm tall and skinny)
then, the other thing i've been wondering, do girls care what type of music you listen to? i've only ever dated rocker girls so i dont know what the rest of the female population's perception of guys who listen to metal/hard rock/hardcore/punk. should i maybe play down my love for extreme music? im very passionate about music (play drums, guitar and bass) and metal is my first and only love.
any comments or advice?
btw - i think its awesome that you're helping out here in the community.
Here's the general rule: You always want to dress up for the occasion. If the invitation to a party says black tie, you wear a white blazer. If it calls for white blazer, you wear tails. If it calls for a button down, you wear a dinner jacket and tie.
You want to stand out for being on a level above everyone else rather than a level below. It's about value.
Now, how do you compromise that with your own personal rocker style, which is an extension of who you are? Dress up your bad-ass style just a bit, and you'll be standing out for all the RIGHT reasons.
Invest in expensive jeans. It's worth it. They need to make you look like a bad-ass. They can't be too baggy. Diesel or Lucky or any mid-end jeans store would be best. If not, go to Gap. Polo sport... hmm.. make sure you either take a girl with you or get a girl's opinion while you're shopping. Not just any girl. Find a girl who knows what she's doing and become her best friend.
You answered your own question... the way to dress your rocker look up is to pop on a blazer. It's a bad-ass look, and one that I personally rock when I go out in the fall. Look, the Jonas brothers are stupid, but their stylist is the fucking best in LA.
Another style that is also fun to play around with is a rocker dandy (like Beau Brummel.) Think mixing up pieces like vests, suspenders, ties, skinny ties, pocket watches, pocket squares.... with your own rocker pieces. The jonas brothers demonstrate again:
Russell Brand's style is impeccable and sexy:
WARNING: Be careful that you get these pieces in proportion, in good taste, and in materials and styles that don't project cheap. These guys in the picture below are an epic fail:
Why? Because the ties are out of porportion (except for the one in the vest,) the colors and patterns are disharmonious in a bad way, the materials look cheap, and the tailoring on the shirts looks like it's from the 70's.
As far as music... dude, like what you like. I like everything. I listen to everything from NIN to Bjork to John Mayer to Black Sabbath. It's good to be well versed in what's a huge hit on the radio, just so you don't look like you live in a cave, but don't change your tastes so you can get girls. Positively augment your taste and become a more cultured person.
As far as what girls like... they're going to be into what's on the radio and what's being played in clubs. Then, as you get to know them, they're just human beings who like whatever they like. Also depends on their cultural background.
If I might jump in with a few thoughts?
(with my apologies to Zip for perhaps speaking out of turn)
Some other rock style icons for you guys to perhaps check out (especially HxC87x, and other hard n' dark-rockin' dudes): Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (all of 'em, seriously), Andrew Eldritch (The Sisters Of Mercy), Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Joe Strummer (The Clash/The Mescaleros), Brian Setzer (Stray Cats), Mike Ness (Social Distortion), Billy Zoom and John Doe (X), "Thin White Duke"-era David Bowie, Trent Reznor (NIN), Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, not counting the times they were "rockin' dresses" onstage), Joe Perry (I've never seen this guy not look sharp, even if Aerosmith's best music was their early stuff!), Slash, Iggy Pop (when he's intentionally going for suave, rather than insane/bleeding), and, for Metal guys, the immortal Lemmy Kilminster. Pick what you like from them, and adapt it to personally fit you.
Whatever you wear has to be truly congruent with you at your best...ya dig? You *don't* have to spend an arm and a leg, but, to quote Miz Zip:
"WARNING: Be careful that you get these pieces in proportion, in good taste, and in materials and styles that don't project cheap."
Also, if you are going to be thrashing, stagediving, crowdsurfing and slamming in the pit at a Slayer or a Hatebreed show (or any show where there will be majorly violent moshing--and YES, you can definitely meet gorgeous girls at these things!)--IMHO, don't think you have to "dress like a chump", but do wear stuff that will truly withstand the rigors of your expected environment, and bring a change of clothing (a spare clean black band t-shirt will do, and NOT of the band you just saw, ok?), some breath freshening strips/gum, and some deodorant for the afterparty. Keep your stuff in a messenger's bag, which you can either check in at coat check, or maybe leave by the merch table (if you ask very nicely, so be charming, guys! Merch girls are your friends!). After the show, wash your face in the men's room at the venue, change your shirt, make sure you smell clean, and wear your battle scars with pride! Own your frame with strength!
Speaking of which, for hardcore/punk/metal environments, a cool messenger's bag is a nice and incredibly useful accessory (The Reload brand is a great one, and well worth looking into) to keep in mind...
I hope that all helped (and again, my apologies to Zip!)!
Up the irons, folks, and good luck!
**shifts back into lurk mode**
CHAT
